Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-14

neighborhood Of the spring plunged tn
chain gang and the guard into the grea,
est excitement
, What was the mitters Had Dicl
Macon fired upon Joe III the act Of escap
e ingE Had Joe wrested the musket from
Dick and shot HIM These were tn
questions asked among the convicts Tn
-, affair was explained in a moment
Dick Macon made his appearance run
p. ming at full speed. He was almos
breathless when he came into the gang o
> prisoners.
Il had to kill him, he gasped. Twa
sorry enough TO have TO do it. but h
turned on me all OF a sudden with 4 bi!
stone in his hand, and If had been sec
, ond later he would have killed me-"
Some of the prisoners murmmed at thi,
statement, but the ominous click o.
the muskcts quieted them, and after
brief consultation n trusty was dispatched
TO the house TO inform Col. Clay of the ac
CurrenCe
The wealthy convict lessee swore
roundly at first, but after little reflection
he said:
by jove, I'm glad the fellows gone
He was heap Of trouble-n pow full sight
of truuble-couldn't do fair day s work
and always stirring the other men ID
mutiny-it'S the best thing that could
have happened"
The truSty returned to the field bearing
from Col. Clay the laconic message. Its
all right, and the work Of the day went
on rs usual.
When the prisoners knocked Off work at
sundown they were marched to the stock
ade, in which they We're always penned up
-, II
"A guard to bury the dead man.
No coroner's inquest was held. 1t was
not likely that anybody would raise a stU
over so tritling an event as the shooting q.
chain gang malefactor. A grave WAS
hastily dug near the place where the body
lay, and the carcass was dumped into q
hole and covered over with dirt.
In "A week the affair was forgotten
Matters at the camp moved on as usual,
with the exception Of The illness of Dick
Macon. This young man fell ill without
any warning. and after a few days re-
signed his position, saying that he would
have 10 seek some lighter employment
The great convict lessee swore at Dick,
but finally parted with him in a tolersbly
good humOr. The thought never crossed
his mind that the shooting Of Joe had any
thing TO do with the illness of the guard
and his desire for "a change of scene and
occupation.
So Dick Macon drew what wages were
due him and fitted away one morning,
whittier no one knew or cared to know
The season at Bagatelle Springs was at
its height. Visitors who had not missed
n season for twenty years declared with
never appeared To better advantage. The
hotel was filed with guests and the cot
tagcs were well patronized Fairer wo-
men and hraver men were never assem-
bled together TO trifle away the days and
engage in midnight revels.
The Gayest of all the gay and high spir-
tied gallants who were the acknowledged
ladykillers of Bagatelle was unquestion-
ably Mr.. Richard Macon.
This young man was a riddle to the few
students Of human nature who occasion
ally made him special study Young.
handsome. possessed Of abundant means
and regarded with undisguised favor by
more than one of the reigning bellies there
appeared to be every reason why young
Macon should he a thoroughly happy man.
That he was not happy. in spite Of his
to see. The days passed, and Macon was
engaged in u continuous round ot pleas
urc. Athletic and proficient il every
manly sport and pastime, from a rowing
match TO IA game of croquet, it was not
surprising that his time should be fully
occupied.
Nobody knew anything against Mr..
Richard Macon, and yet there was feel
ing unpleasant surprise il the gay cir
Gle at Basatclle when it WAS known that
the young man had Won the heart and u
promise of the hand Of Irene Murray. tho
prettiest little blonde beauty ut the
springs. Still it was difficult To give a
reason for this. Miss Murray was An
heircSS, the only child of widowed
mother who had came to Bayatelle in
reality for her health, and not to sot her
cap for second husband But Macon
was handsome. generous fellow. % little
moody and queer at times, hut in the
main genial and clever. and. better than
all. the owner of certain mining stocks
which paid him fabulous dividends His
We're not known. but he
claimed kinship with highly respectable
families well known To the social world,
and no one questioned his story.
Ii was the last night of Irene Murrays
stay al Bagatelle. On the morrow she and
her mother were to return home. The
two lovers had much to say TO each other,
and they preferred 10 say il away from
the glare of the ballroom. and away from
the sounds of flying feet and the watering
place band.
As they promenaded on the spacious
piazza Of the hotel, Irene said, as her low
ing eyes rested upon the handsome face |
Of her escort:
"Now, Richard, dear, you will follow
lis SOON
In ten days at farthest, my darling"
Richard. Il am waiting for
business letter which may call lie TO New
York, but even in that case my stay will
BE- short. and you will See me before you
have begun To miss me.
'Richard'' said the fair girl with
tinSe Of melancholy in her tone, there is
Dnly one thing needed TO make me per
tectly happy"
'Ha, har' laughed Richard, you
would have the old lady view me with
more favorable eyes"
That is just it, was the earnest an
;wer Mamma is all l have left and
10 desire 10 please her. and yet her preju-
iices are SO unreasonable"
''Of course think SO, rs they are lev
led al me-" said Richard; but never
mind. dear, her prcjudices will vanish
when she sees how devoted am TO you,
md how we love each other"
Il hope So" Irene replied, seriously
md with a trcmor Of her rosebud mouth.
'Of course they will" answered the
over, cheerily; no prejudice will be
IroOf against such love rs mine!'
The two continued their promenade, but
inally paused where the light from the
ballroom windows fell upon them.
II have a little present for you" said
Richard Macon, with strange, intense
ing in his voice. 1T is an heirloom in
'ur family, and has been for couple of
enturies, / suppose; l have always kept
t concealed from profane eyes, with the
mention of giving it to my promised
wife
The girls face grew radiant as she
aised her eyes with an eXpectant look.
ClumSily and with singular awkward